Ogden, IA vs Spirit Lake, IA

Ogden is moderately more affordable than Spirit Lake, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Ogden scores 67 compared to 77 for Spirit Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spirit Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ogden is $745/month compared to $885/month in Spirit Lake — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ogden is more affordable at $155,800 median vs $218,400.

Median household income in Ogden is $70,556 compared to $73,627 in Spirit Lake (-4.2%). Spirit Lake does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Ogden spend roughly 12.7% of their income on rent, less than the 14.4% in Spirit Lake.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.6°F vs 46.8°F). Ogden receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 26.8" in Spirit Lake.